Its pouring since the last two days incessantly. Every season we all eagerly await the rains but they have their own woes too, especially the different forms of fever.
While most are normal viral fevers, doctors are advising caution and adequate rest to ensure that things don’t get out of hand. The sudden change in climate accompanied by a variation between the day and night temperatures are to blame for the multiplication of viruses, resulting in flu and respiratory infections.
● Author
Dr. B.A. Chaurasia
Internal Medicine · Critical Care & Diabetes
Consultant, Internal Medicine · Diabetes, Critical Care & Infectious Diseases
MBBS, MD Medicine, FCCCM, CCEBDM · KDAH Mumbai · English, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi
What Is Fever?
Fever meaning, in clinical terms, refers to a temporary increase in body temperature, typically above 38°C (100.4°F), as a response by the immune system to infection, inflammation, or another underlying trigger. It is not a disease in itself; it is the body’s signal that something is wrong.
A mild fever is one of the most common indicators of illness and, in many cases, a sign that the immune system is actively responding. However, certain types of fever, particularly those persisting beyond three days, rising above 39.5°C, or accompanied by specific warning signs that require medical evaluation rather than home management.
Fever can be classified by pattern:
- Continuous fever — temperature remains consistently elevated with minimal variation; seen in typhoid and pneumonia
- Remittent fever — temperature fluctuates but never returns to normal; common in infections like infective endocarditis
- Intermittent fever — temperature spikes at intervals and returns to normal in between; characteristic of malaria
- Relapsing fever — periods of normal temperature alternating with episodes of fever; associated with certain bacterial infections
Common Symptoms of Fever
Fever symptoms vary depending on the underlying cause of fever, but the most commonly reported signs include:
- Elevated body temperature above 38°C
- Chills and shivering, particularly at the onset of fever
- Profuse sweating as the body attempts to lower temperature
- Headache and body ache
- Fatigue and generalised weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration, particularly if sweating is significant
- Mild confusion or disorientation in cases of very high fever
In monsoon specific types of fever, additional fever symptoms that are clinically significant include:
- Skin rash (dengue, chikungunya)
- Joint pain and swelling (chikungunya)
- Severe abdominal pain or vomiting (dengue, hepatitis A)
- Red or jaundiced eyes (leptospirosis)
- Dark urine and abdominal discomfort (hepatitis A, typhoid)
- Watery diarrhoea and rapid dehydration (cholera)
If your fever symptoms include any of the above, a diagnostic evaluation is necessary. A pathology lab in Mumbai can conduct targeted blood and urine tests to quickly identify the specific cause. What Causes Fever?
Understanding the causes of fever during monsoon goes beyond identifying a single germ. Multiple factors converge during this season to raise the risk of febrile illness: Infectious Causes
The most common causes of fever are infections — viral, bacterial, or parasitic:
- Viral infections — influenza, dengue, chikungunya, and other respiratory viruses spread rapidly in humid, crowded conditions
- Bacterial infections — typhoid, leptospirosis, and cholera are strongly linked to contaminated water and flood exposure
- Parasitic infections — malaria, though declining, remains a monsoon risk in certain areas
Environmental and Seasonal Triggers
- Temperature fluctuation — the gap between warm daytime and cooler nighttime temperatures suppresses immune function and increases susceptibility
- Humidity — creates optimal breeding conditions for mosquitoes (dengue, malaria, chikungunya) and promotes mould and fungal growth
- Stagnant water — collecting in pots, drains, tyres, and open containers, is the primary breeding ground for the Aedes aegypti mosquito
- Waterborne contamination — flooding mixes drinking water sources with sewage, significantly raising the risk of cholera, hepatitis A, typhoid, and leptospirosis
- Weakened immunity — disrupted sleep, erratic eating, and extended exposure to rain and cold all contribute to immune suppression during the season
If you are experiencing persistent fever and cannot identify a clear cause, consult a general physician in Mumbai for a thorough evaluation.
Some common types of Fever:
- Dengue fever
An acute viral infection dengue is acquired from the bite of a female Aedes aegypti mosquito at daytime. Symptoms include the sudden onset of high fever that may last from two to seven days, joint and muscle pains, skin rashes, nose bleeding, abdominal pain, and vomiting.
- Leptospirosis
This is a bacterial infection from rodents and other vermin. This is commonly transmitted through rodent bites, contaminated food and exposure to flood with urine or faeces of infected animals. Apart from open wounds, the bacteria also enters the system through the eyes, nose and mouth. Fever, muscle pain, headache and reddish eyes are some of its symptoms.
- Cholera
A serious intestinal infection transmitted by consuming food or drinking water filled with Vibrio cholerae, a bacterium usually found in human waste. This causes watery diarrhea and vomiting, leading to severe dehydration.
- Influenza
Also known as flu, it’s a viral infection affecting those with weak immune systems. This affects the respiratory system and triggers chills, fever, sore throat, runny nose, coughs and fatigue.
- Hepatitis A
An ancient disease of the liver it is known to be very infectious. This can be transmitted through food and water contaminated with faeces and urine from an infected patient. Abdominal discomfort, tiredness, dark urine and fever are few signs.
- Typhoid
An acute illness caused by Salmonellae typhi bacteria from the faecal waste of a carrier. Infected people suffer from poor appetite, headaches, diarrhea and lethargy.
- Chikungunya fever
This is caused by the same dengue virus mosquito, Aedes aegypti which bites during the day. It can cause severe, occasionally persistent, joint pain as well as fever and rashes. Specific antiviral drugs or vaccine for treatment of chikungunya fever aren’t available.
Some things to take care during Fever:
- To avoid infections to spread do not attend college, school or office.
- Complete rest is needed to cure with plenty of fluids, water and warm food.
- Consuming only boiled water is a must.
- Watch out for any unusual condition and get tested if fever persists.
- Guard yourselves and be protected from different illnesses preventable by vaccination.
- If going out is necessary, wear a facemask or cover your nose and mouth with a handkerchief in crowded places to avoid getting viruses.
- Avoid making contact with flooded areas especially when you have an open wound.
- Always feel free to get medical help without delay it he patient’s health deteriorates.
Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital functions with a FULL TIME SPECIALIST SYSTEM, which ensures the availability of specialists round the clock. Contact us anytime for emergencies and consultations We cater to all kind of patient issues minor and major. Please visit our website for further details:
https://www.kokilabenhospital.com
Fever Medicine and Treatment Options
Fever medicine selection depends entirely on the underlying cause of fever. Using the wrong treatment, or self prescribing antibiotics for a viral illness is ineffective and contributes to antibiotic resistance.
For Viral Fever
Most viral types of fever do not respond to antibiotics. The standard approach includes:
- Paracetamol (acetaminophen) — the most commonly used fever medicine; reduces body temperature and relieves associated pain and headache
- Ibuprofen — effective for fever management and body aches, though avoided in dengue cases due to bleeding risk
- Adequate rest — allows the immune system to mount a full response
- Oral rehydration — essential to replace fluids lost through sweating and reduced intake
For Bacterial Fever
Bacterial types of fever, such as typhoid and leptospirosis, require antibiotic therapy prescribed by a physician after diagnostic confirmation. Self treatment or incomplete antibiotic courses risk serious complications.
When to See a Specialist
If fever persists beyond three days, does not respond to standard fever medicine, or is accompanied by rash, bleeding, severe abdominal pain, or confusion, consult an infectious disease specialist in Mumbai without delay. Timely blood work through a pathology lab in Mumbai is often what determines the difference between prompt recovery and a prolonged or complicated illness.
Do not combine multiple fever medicines without medical advice. Paracetamol overdose, which can occur when combination cold and flu products are taken alongside standalone paracetamol, is a leading cause of liver injury.
Precautions and Prevention During Fever
Managing fever well during monsoon means both treating the illness correctly and protecting yourself and others from spread. The following precautions are relevant whether you are currently unwell or seeking to protect against becoming so.
If You Have a Fever
- Stay home — do not attend school, college, or the office while you have an active fever; many types of fever are contagious through droplet or direct contact
- Rest completely — the body’s immune response works most efficiently when at rest; pushing through a fever prolongs recovery
- Stay hydrated — drink plenty of fluids, including water, oral rehydration solutions, and warm soups, to compensate for losses; dehydration worsens all fever symptoms
- Drink boiled or filtered water only — waterborne causes of fever, including cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis A, are directly linked to contaminated drinking water
- Monitor your symptoms — if fever symptoms change significantly, if temperature rises above 39.5°C, or if new symptoms appear, seek medical evaluation promptly
- Seek help early — do not delay medical attention if your condition deteriorates; consult a general physician in Mumbai at the earliest sign of a serious or worsening fever
Preventing Monsoon Fever
